Smithfield-Selma student gets week inside Washington, D.C. halls of power

Jude Reece is one of two delegates in the state, one of 104 chosen from across the country. It’s the 61st year of the U.S. Senate Youth Program.

Reece jumped on the opportunity. He explained, "So I first found out about it in the fall of this year. A teacher oriented me with an email with information about the application process; Thank you Miss Suggs!"

To earn a spot he wrote an essay about the role of the federal judiciary and defending natural rights. All students in the program will meet President Biden, their state’s senators and justices on the Supreme Court.

Each student had to create a presentation. "In my case, a video to talk about some of our work in the community and our hopes for the future," said Reece.

In addition to the learning opportunity, Reece and all of the student delegates get a $10,000 scholarship.

Reece said, "I was beside myself. I was so excited, and then just to have the opportunity to go to Washington for a week in a few months was just insanely exciting."

North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Tedd Budd and their staffs will shepherd Reece and his counterpart, a student from Lincolnton, through the experience.

Reece sees his future in the legislative branch. "The ability to work alongside people who hold different perspectives is going to be useful whether I end up in the government or not," he said.

He added, "Hopefully, I’ll come back home with new ideas, new things to try out so that each of us keep making a difference in our state."

Reece says he plans on majoring in public policy in college and perhaps work in government as a lawyer after he graduates.